By Emily Vojtech

The PLL (Premier Lacrosse League) has officially announced the city or state each team will call home, which they are calling “Home Cities.” Many Minnesotans were feeling hopeful, as the Waterdogs called themselves the Minnesota Waterdogs after being undefeated in their games here. Many Minnesota lacrosse fans also showed up when the PLL held games here, showing the market here has promise.

Lacrosse has been one of the fastest-growing sports in our state. We have knowledgeable fans who love the game.

Minnesota was proudly home to the NLL (National Lacrosse League) Swarm (now located in Georgia) for over ten years from 2004-2015. The Swarm played at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul and had thousands of loyal fans.

A movement was started by Minnesotans to bring the NLL back shortly after the Swarm left for a new market in Georgia. Currently, Minnesota does not host a NLL team.

Minnesota does have three NABLL (North American Box Lacrosse League) teams, including the Minneapolis Wheatkings, the Inver Grove Isotopes, and the St. Paul Blueshirts.

Many Minnesotans, of all ages, have expressed their frustration and disappointment about the PLL team list on social media.

Not only is there not going to be a PLL team in Minnesota, but there is not a team in the entire midwest. The closest team to Minnesota will be in Denver. The PLL is reviving the MLL (Major League Lacrosse) team, the Denver Outlaws. The Denver Outlaws participated in the MLL from 2006 to 2020, when the MLL merged with the PLL.

Other cities/states that will host a PLL team include: Utah, New York, Philadelphia, Carolina (a team for North and South Carolina), California, Maryland, and Boston.

While I understand lacrosse is very popular on the East Coast, it becomes difficult to believe people want to grow the game when the Midwest is not recognized or represented in these leagues.

As lacrosse fans, we will continue to support our local teams and hope that someday leagues like the PLL and NLL expand to Minnesota.

If you would like to share your thoughts on the new PLL home cities/states, or Minnesota lacrosse in general, we are now accepting Letters to the Editor. Please email your thoughts to minlaxmag@gmail.com, and we will publish them on our website for free (pending approval). Please make sure your letters are respectful, do not contain foul language, and most importantly- pertains to lacrosse in Minnesota!